CPU storage cabinet

ABSTRACT

A storage cabinet for a CPU where the storage cabinet includes two side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a front door, a front spacer panel and a back panel. The storage cabinet may be inverted to allow the door to open from the left side or the right side. A set of casters is also provided to be attached to the bottom of the cabinet. The cabinet is easily assembled by placing the front spacer panel at the bottom of the cabinet and adjusting the door vertically on one of the side walls so as to have the door disposed above the spacer panel. Upper and lower spaces are provided between the door, the side walls and the top and bottom walls at the front portion of the cabinet. A recess is provided in one of the side walls at the rear of the cabinet and an opening is provided in the back of the cabinet so that ready access to cables, wires and the like connected to the CPU is provided. An opening covered by an air grille is provided in the side wall opposite to the side wall to which the door is attached.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a central processing unit (CPU) storagecabinet and more particularly, to a universal CPU storage cabinet thatmay be easily and inexpensively made to open from either the left sideor the right side.

2. Description of the Related Art

Most CPU devices are poorly designed boxes that are placed inout-of-the-way locations. Because of the unattractive appearance of aCPU, it is often desirable to hide it altogether. However, it must beremembered that the CPU cannot be physically moved too far from itsrespective computer screen and keyboard. These items are typicallylocated on a work surface, such as a desk that is easily accessible by acomputer user.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention described here is a central processing unitstorage cabinet operable in either of two invertible positions whereinthe cabinet includes first and second side walls, where each side wallincludes a height, a length, a forward edge and a rear edge, top andbottom walls, where each of the top and bottom walls includes a lengthand a width, a vertically adjustable door, a door hinge and a spacerpanel. The top and bottom walls are attached to the side walls along aportion of the length of the side walls, where the lengths of the topand bottom walls are less than the lengths of the side walls. The spacerpanel is attachable to the side walls adjacent to either the top wall orto the bottom wall as a function of which of the top wall and bottomwall is in the vertically lowest position. The door is attached to oneof the side walls at a vertical location which is a function of thevertical placement of the top wall and the bottom wall, and the doorhinge is attached to the door and to the side wall opposite the dooropening.

There are a number of advantages, features and objects achieved with thepresent invention which are believed not to be available. For example,one advantage is that the present invention provides a CPU storagecabinet with a door that may be left or right opening and easilytransformed from one opening to the other. Other objects of the presentinvention are to provide a CPU storage cabinet which is inexpensive,versatile, functional and attractive. A further advantage of the presentinvention is that the CPU storage cabinet is easy to move and allowsfacilitated hook-up of the CPU with an attendant computer screen andkeyboard. Yet another feature of the present invention is the provisionof a CPU storage cabinet which effectively hides an unsightly CPU. Astill further advantage is that the cabinet is well ventilated, allowingventilation to one side or the other.

A more complete understanding of the present invention and otherobjects, advantages and features thereof will be gained from aconsideration of the following description of a preferred embodimentread in conjunction with the accompanying drawing provided herein. Thepreferred embodiment represents an example of the invention which isdescribed here in compliance with Title 35 U.S.C. section 112 (firstparagraph), but the invention itself is defined by the attached claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a CPU storage cabinet with a closed door.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the CPU storage cabinet shown in FIG. 1with the door in an open position after pivoting right to left.

FIG. 3 is an inverted isometric view of the CPU storage cabinet shown inFIG. 1 (partially assembled) illustrating a left side opening door (thedoor pivoting from left to right).

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the CPU storage cabinet after a partialreconfiguration before inverting.

FIG. 5 is a downward looking isometric view of the CPU storage cabinetshown in FIG. 1 with the door closed.

FIG. 6 is a rear isometric view of the CPU storage cabinet shown in FIG.1.

FIG. 7 is a bottom isometric view of the CPU storage cabinet shown inFIG. 1 illustrating an attached set of casters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is open to various modifications andalternative constructions, the preferred embodiment shown in the variousfigures of the drawing will be described herein in detail. It isunderstood, however, that there is no intention to limit the inventionto the particular embodiment, form or example which is disclosed. On thecontrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalentstructures and methods, and alternative constructions falling within thespirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims,pursuant to Title 35 U.S.C. section 112 (second paragraph).

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a CPU storage cabinet 10having two side walls 12, 14, a top wall 16, a bottom wall 18, a door20, two door hinges 22, 24 and a spacer panel 26. It is intended that aCPU (not shown) may be disposed on the bottom wall and behind the door,when closed.

Referring now also to FIG. 3, each side wall includes a heightrepresented by the arrow 30 and a length represented by the arrow 32, aforward edge 34 and a rear edge 36. In a like manner, the top and bottomwalls 16, 18 have a length depicted by the arrow 40 and a width depictedby the arrow 42.

The side wall 12 includes a large central opening covered by an airgrille 44. The side wall 12 also includes a slanted surface 46 on theforward edge 34 and a recess 48 formed in the rear edge 36. The slantedforward edge allows a user's fingers to curl behind the door when it isclosed so that it may be pivoted to an open position. The recess 48 inthe rear edge provides an opening for easy access to cables and wiresconnected to the CPU.

The door 20 is vertically adjustable so that the cabinet can be easilyconfigured between right and left opening versions. This is accomplishedby having a series of fastener receiving openings 50 formed on theinside surface 51 of the side wall 14. The hinges 22, 24 each have oneportion which is received within a door aperture 52 and screws which areconnected to the door by a pair of screws receiving apertures 54, 56.The rearward portion of the hinge is connected to the side wall 14 byscrews placed in a pair of the openings 50 formed in the side wall. Thisis done at an appropriate vertical level depending on whether the dooris to open on the right side or the left side. For a left side openingdoor, the vertical level of the door is shown in FIG. 3. For a rightside opening door, the vertical level of the door is shown in FIG. 4before the cabinet is inverted, as shown in FIG. 2.

The side walls also contain fastener receiving apertures, such as thetwo apertures 60, 62, FIG. 3, and apertures 64, 66, FIG. 4, at eachvertical end of the side wall 14. This allows the spacer panel 26, alsocalled a kickplate, to be attached to brackets, such as the bracket 68,FIG. 3, and then connected to both side walls by inserting fastenersinto the appropriate fastener apertures. The term “fastener” used inthis specification refers primarily to screw type fasteners, however,other types of fasteners may be found useful and may be used withoutdeparting from the basic structure of the cabinet.

The cabinet also includes two back panels 70, 72, FIG. 6, forming acentral opening 73 allowing easy access to the CPU stored in thecabinet.

Hidden fasteners, well known to those skilled in the art, are mountedwithin the top wall 16 and the bottom wall 18 and are represented bycircles, such as the circle 74, FIG. 2, in the top wall 16 and circle76, FIG. 4, in the bottom wall 18 and allow easy assembly anddisassembly of the top and bottom walls to the side walls.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, it is apparent that the lengths ofthe top and bottom walls 16, 18 are less than the lengths 32 of the sidewalls 12, 14. This configuration provides for an upper opening 80, FIGS.3 and 5, in the top of the cabinet between the door 20 and the top wall16, and a lower opening 82, FIGS. 2 and 4 in the bottom of the cabinetbetween the door 20 and the bottom wall 18. The openings 80, 82 alongwith the air grille 44 allow for good ventilation for the CPU and alsoallows the air grille to be facing to the left or the right.

To facilitate mobility, the cabinet includes a set of four casters 90,92, 94, 96, FIG. 7, attached to the bottom wall 18 using screw fastenersand fastener receiving apertures, such as the apertures 100, 102, 104,106, FIG. 4, as formed in the bottom wall 18.

It is to be understood the terms “top” and “bottom” are used forconvention only because the cabinet may be inverted depending uponwhether the door is to open on the left side or the right side. Hence,in FIGS. 2 and 4, the door is shown opening from the right side. In thisconfiguration, the top wall 16 is located at a higher vertical elevationthan the bottom wall 18. However, when the door is to be opened from theleft side, then the bottom wall 18 is at a higher elevation than the topwall 16 as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 illustrates the cabinet beingreconfigured from that shown in FIG. 3, right side open door, to thatshown in FIG. 2, left side open door. Thus, the door is verticallylowered (as long as the bottom wall 18 is more elevated than the topwall 16) and the spacer panel is moved from a “lower” position shown inFIG. 3 to an “upper” position shown in FIG. 4. Thereafter, the cabinetis turned upside down or inverted so that the attitude shown in FIG. 2is assumed.

In operation, if the cabinet is in an unassembled state, assembly iseasily and quickly done by attaching the side walls to the top andbottom walls. Next, the back panels are attached to the side walls.Thereafter, the hinges are attached to the door and depending on whetherthe door is to open from the left or from the right, the hinges areattached to the side wall 14 as a function of whether the cabinet isinverted or right side up. If inverted as shown in FIG. 4, the door isattached in a lowered position, the spacer panel is attached to the sidewalls above the door, the casters are installed upside down and thecompleted cabinet is inverted, ready for use.

If the cabinet is right side up after attaching the walls and backpanels, the door is attached at a higher elevation, leaving room forattachment of the spacer panel. The cabinet is then turned on its sideor inverted for installation of the casters. After installation, thecabinet is turned so that the casters are at the bottom of the unit,whereupon the cabinet is ready for use.

The cabinet is easily moved on the casters and because of the side andrear access to the stored CPU, the CPU can quickly be brought up to aworkstation and connected to a screen, keyboard, mouse and network. Thecabinet is versatile, functional and attractive, and it makes workspaces more flexible and versatile and more aesthetically appealing aswell. The cabinet may be placed under a work surface or it may standalone. Further, a decorative cover may be placed on top of the cabinet.

The above specification describes in detail the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention. Other examples, embodiments, modifications andvariations will, under both the literal claim language and the doctrineof equivalents, come within the scope of the invention defined by theappended claims. For example, different fasteners may be used, thecabinet may have a different outer design and the amount of open spaceat the side, the rear and top and bottom of the cabinet may be altered.These are all considered to be equivalent structures. Further, they willcome within the literal language of the claims. Still other alternativeswill also be equivalent as will many new technologies. There is nodesire or intention here to limit in any way the application of thedoctrine of equivalents nor to limit or restrict the scope of theinvention.

1. A storage cabinet for a central processing unit operable in either of two invertible positions wherein: said cabinet includes first and second side walls, top and bottom walls, a vertically adjustable door, a door hinge and a spacer panel; said side walls each includes a height, a length, a forward edge and a rear edge; said top and bottom walls each includes a length and a width; said top and bottom walls are attached to said side walls along a portion of the length of said side walls, the lengths of said top and bottom walls being less than the lengths of said side walls; said spacer panel is attachable to said side walls adjacent to either said top wall or to said bottom wall as a function of which of said top wall and bottom wall is in the vertically lowest location; said door is attached to one of said side walls at a vertical position which location is a function of the placement of said top and said bottom wall; and said door hinge is attached to said door and attachable to said one of said side walls.
 2. The storage cabinet as claimed in claim 1 including: a set of casters attached to either said top wall or to said bottom wall as a function of the placement of said top and said bottom walls.
 3. The storage cabinet as claimed in claim 1 including: a slanted edge formed along the forward edge of the side wall not attached to said door.
 4. The storage cabinet as claimed in claim 1 including: a recess formed in said rear edge of said side wall not attached to said door.
 5. The storage cabinet as claimed in claim 1 including: an air grille attached to said side wall not attached to said door.
 6. The storage cabinet as claimed in claim 1 including: a back panel connected to said side walls and forming with said side walls a rear opening in said storage cabinet.
 7. The storage cabinet as claimed in claim 1 including: a set of casters attachable to either said top wall or to said bottom wall as a function of the placement of said top and said bottom walls; and a slanted edge formed along the forward edge of the side wall not attached to said door.
 8. The storage cabinet as claimed in claim 7 including: a recess formed in said rear edge of said side wall not attached to said door.
 9. The storage cabinet as claimed in claim 8 including: a back panel connected to said side walls; and wherein said side walls and said back panel form an opening in the rear of said storage cabinet.
 10. The storage cabinet as claimed in claim 9 including: an air grille attached to said side wall not attached to said door. 